Russia and Belarus conduct Instant Paratrooper landing exercises at the Polish Border

Belarus and its ally Russia said Friday they were holding joint military drills near Belarus’ western border with EU member Poland where a migrant crisis is unfolding.

Belarus’s defense ministry said on Telegram that a “joint battalion tactical group” of paratroopers from both countries was holding exercises at the Gozhsky range in western Belarus.

The ministry said the drills were carried out due to the “build-up of military activity” near the Belarusian border.

It added that Russian Il-76 aircraft and Belarusian military helicopters were involved in the drills, where servicemen were carrying out a “number of combat training tasks.”